Endangered Places Preserved

Colorado Preservation, Inc., through its Endangered Places Program, has been a catalyst for historic preservation throughout Colorado. One of its successes was preserving the City Ditch. Built in the 1860s, the City Ditch is a 26-mile hand-dug engineering marvel that introduced irrigation to Denver through a gravity system. One section still flows through Washington Park (see photo below). This important feature was threatened in 2003 and Colorado Preservation, Inc. listed it as one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places. As a result, the site was considered “saved” in 2009.

The Endangered Places Program currently includes over a hundred listings, from Native American sites to historic landscapes, railroad stations, school buildings, industrial sites, private residences and commercial buildings. Many stand vacant, sometimes abandoned for decades, others are threatened by development or demolition when no new use has been identified. In short, the program is diverse, widespread and filled with critical historical stories, past, present and future.

For more information on the Endangered Places Program and how to save important historic places in your community, contact Jennifer Orrigo Charles, Endangered Places Program Director, 303-893-4260 x 237, or email her at jorrigocharles@coloradopreservation.org.